Drouin to celebrate 1967 triple premiership year
Drouin Football Club may have had a scratchy start to the season but it is gearing up for a big celebration.
The Hawks will mark the 50th anniversary of its clean sweep of West Gippsland Football League premierships – firsts, seconds and thirds – in 1967.
The celebrations will be held during the home game against Moe on July 15.
A highlight of the triple premiership year was that one player, Leon Rice, who went onto further premiership glory with Hawthorn, played in all three winning sides.
He captained the thirds to their win and later in the day was on the bench for the firsts.
Rice also was in the seconds side that took the flag decided a week later in a replay after the grand final day game was drawn.
As a junior he was eligible to also play in the seconds.
Peter Nottage, full forward in the firsts, also doubled up; injuries that kept him out for most of the season meaning he’d not played enough senior games to disqualify him from the seconds.
The Drouin firsts team caused an upset to defeat Longwarry, the Hawks led by captain-coach Kevin Ellis that they’d recruited from their grand final opponents.
Co-ordinator of the re-union Graeme Davies said it was hoped to get as many players from all teams together on July 15.
Officials, supporters as well as family and friends, including those of several of the players that have passed away, are welcome to attend.
Details are available from Graeme Davies on 0404605536 or John Atkins 0407335290. The Drouin premiership teams of 1967 were:FIRSTS Kevin Ellis, Howard Steer, Ken Leeson, Gino Megetto, Alan Singline, Richard Gould, Peter Rice, Wayne Cochrane, Jim Ayres (dec.), Alf Ridgway (dec.), Peter Nottage, Dennis Bright, Peter Harris, Robert Devries, Jeff Hourigan, Trevor Rose, Alan Aitken, Stewart Pepperell, Alan Johnston, Leon Rice, Terry Cook. SECONDS Graeme Hoult, Noel Price, Gary Miles, Noel Stewart, Peter Nottage, Mick Rantall, Geoff Batten, John Thornbury, Terry Leach, Elio Megetto, Brian Hutt, John Gawne, Ron Wadham, Warwick Thomas, Graham Elston, Malcolm Whitworth (dec.), John Arnup, Leon Rice, John Atkins, Mick Fox (dec.) Brian Rice, John Hutt. THIRDS Leon Rice, Jim Tibballs (dec.), Shane Gnaden, Frank Dickers, Tony Flack, Ray Howe, Russell Donaldson, William Black, Ron Thornbury, Mick Quigley, Danny Trollope, Chris Nickell, William Bateson, Bill Hallam, Ron Taylor, P.Tepper, Carlo Beltrame, Chris Leach, Geoff Miles.
Graeme Davies would also appreciate contact from people that may have addresses or ‘phone numbers of the players, many of which that no longer live in the area.